“I have mellowed over the years, I think. I am still intense, but I would like to think now I know when to use it”

David Moyes

And at Goodison on Sunday there was no sense of bitterness or disappointment, only good will, thanks and ultimately tears for those to whom this club means everything.

"It has been emotional," was how Moyes described it. "From the moment I arrived today, it has been like that."

The stewards had got the ball rolling, lining up and clapping him as he arrived. Others shook his hand, wished him luck and thanked him - there were no dissenting voices, not one. The scenes at the final whistle were more akin to a club that had won a trophy than one about to lose a valued manager.

Having
seen off West Ham
with a performance that bore all the hallmarks of a Moyes side - tenacity, technique and perseverance - he took centre stage for the final time.

The Glaswegian is not comfortable in the limelight, that much was clear before kick-off.

Goodison rose to its feet to welcome a man the stadium announcer emphasised was "still the Everton manager". But for Moyes there were no frills or fuss as he waved briefly to all four stands and then took his place on the touchline - there was a game to play.

With their manager camped on the edge of his technical area, Everton raced out of the traps to snatch the lead after just six minutes and never looked back. Moyes joined in the celebrations, mouthing the words "what a goal, what a goal" as Kevin Mirallas swept in after a flowing team move.

But the job was not finished. During the second half, Moyes was seen flicking the ball up to Steven Pienaar to allow him to take a quick throw-in - this meant just as much as it ever had, more maybe. This was, he said, about the football club, not about him.

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Moyes 'delighted' with last Everton game

Mirallas struck again to guarantee Everton sixth place and the only hint of sentiment on the field came with the last-minute introduction of Tony Hibbert, the only surviving player from Moyes' first game in charge.

Then the West Ham players disappeared, leaving the stage to the men in blue and their manager.

As Moyes walked out through a guard of honour and into the centre circle for the final time, he was visibly moved by the warmth of the Everton supporters. Had he doubted they would respond in this way?

"I suppose after the last few days, I got the sense it might be good," he said.

"If I had been an Everton fan today, I would have clapped the manager. When I arrived we needed to win to avoid going down. Now we are fighting for Europe and today that was a performance of a top club - I don't mean a team in sixth, I mean a really top club."

Clap they did. Kenwright couldn't hold back the tears as Moyes and the team he built began their lap of honour. By the time the Everton manager reached the Gwladys Street end, he was overwhelmed. As his players embraced him, his eyes glistened.

"I was gobsmacked. I feel incredibly humble," he said. "What I saw out there was the Everton fans showing what a big club this was today. It wasn't about David Moyes, it was about Everton Football Club. This is a special football club."

Everton finishes under Moyes

2001-02
(Took over in March): 15th

2002-03:
7th

2003-04:
17th

2004-05:
4th

2005-06:
11th

2006-07:
6th

2007-08:
5th

2008-09:
5th

2009-10:
8th

2010-11:
7th

2011-12:
7th

It is certainly a club transformed over the past 11 years.

Only once in the decade before his arrival did Everton finish in the top 10 - under Moyes they have been fourth, fifth twice, sixth once, seventh three times and eighth - this season they will finish sixth, above Liverpool for a second successive season and all on a budget that many would have deemed prohibitive before the former Preston centre-half showed what was possible.

"I have mellowed over the years, I think," he said, when asked how he had changed in his time at Everton.

"I am not sure that is a good thing; maybe it would be better if I was still a baddy. I am still intense, but I would like to think now I know when to use it and know how to use it in the right way."

Those closest to him expect his final week at Everton to be no different to his first. When the players return on Tuesday, Moyes will be first at the club's Finch Farm training ground and the last to leave - in his mind, the job will not be finished until the final whistle against Chelsea next Sunday.

Beyond that, he will look to the future, and to the immense challenge that lies in wait at Old Trafford. But on Sunday he allowed himself, albeit briefly, to reflect on the time that has passed. Everton will not forget.

A great manager who deserves a crack at a 'top' club, no offence to Everton who I admire greatly. I am just saddened that he wasn't previously sought by my own club, Chelsea. It's entirely possible that Moyes would have told RA where to shove it although I suspect not. I am convinced that his contract position was the key factor in Ferguson's decision to retire now.

This page is intended to be comment on DM's departure. What has Wenger, Brenda or anyone else got to do with it? Go and post on your own pages. Personally I am sorry to see DM go but wish him well at MU. We may struggle now he's gone, especially if he takes our stars with him but we'll survive. Don't think he will be looking at anyone from across the park. Does that tell us something? COYB.

David Moyes can leave Everton with a clear conscience. He's leaving them in a much better state than when he arrived. He's done really well on a small budget. Now he has the opportunity to show what he can do on a big budget at Old Trafford.

What an amazing club Everton became under David Moyes and Bill Kenwright. I am very proud to be an Evertonian, and I am sorry to see David Moyes go. You will never convince me that there is a better club in the country than Everton. Good luck David.

Imagine if Wenger was going to Man U. At the last game Arsenal fans would boo him. At GP it was like Everton had won the title. I do not know any fans that would react like that. In the second half all four sides of the ground roared and chanted like t was a cup final. It was all about Everton FC. No man one is bigger than the club. Onto the next stage. Great of Moyes advising on his replacement

We will now see how DM does given resources and financial backing. For me I am thankful to the bloke for his 11 years of solid service to this Great Club. The only thing I can criticise him for is that even if he has just found out, he could have given us a longer lead in time. I think that now Kenwright has to promote from within with maybe someone like Royle advising. Phil or Big Dunc for me.

It's good Evertonians showed their gratitude so emphatically to such a great,loyal servant to their club.He has a daunting pair of shoes to fill at ManU of course,but he's done a great job at Everton,transforming relegation flirters to a top7 team on a very limited wage bill&with a relatively paltry net transfer spend.Like Fergie,Moyes is a hard act to follow;small wonder BillKenwright shed a tear

I'm curious as 2 how everton supporters still laud moyes even after hes lied to them. There is no way he only found out the other day. Id have more respect for him if he admitted the truth & said something like. Sorry lads i was tapped up last xmas when fergie decided to retire but kept everton on a string for the rest of the season incase fergie changed his mind like last time, & sign if he did

he's been very close several times and its been overblown considering the money other teams have spent to get trophy's.I rate him and Moyes highly and hope Man Utd follow the Ferguson era up by sticking to another manager for the long term just as I'm pleased Arsenal have stood by Wenger and the money he will spend this summer will put them back into the reckoning for next season too

when I was a youngster everton were a top outfit on a par with any of them. I remember the 62 63 team (yes im that old) really tough organised outfit with skill won the title with a lot of good sides around.its a pity that moyes comes from the wenger school of winning nothing.still hes got his chance at man utd.

Moyes team for his 1st game. Compare that to today team with the little amount of money he has spent and you can see why 99.9% of us blues respect a great servant.All you RS trolls, what's Brenda ever done?

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